16851_Authority_Aug_2023

24 The Authority | AUGUST 2023 Establishes that a municipality may authorize a land bank to acquire and redevelop real property and specifies what shall apply. Provides for the mu- nicipality to notify the property owner and details that a property owner may appeal the designation of the property as available for acquisition through a land bank, specifying that a munici- pality may provide a property owner a hearing. Provides the steps following an appeal and hearing and that follow- ing the designation of real property as available for acquisition through a land bank, a lank bank may acquire the property under section 2109 (relating to acquisition of property). HB 1206 (Representative Bob Free- man – Northampton) Amends the Economic Development Agency, Fiduciary and Lender Environmental Liability Protection Act by allowing all municipalities to establish land banks on a voluntary basis. Current law only allows munici- palities with 10,000 residents or more to create landbanks. Identical bill: SB 466 (Senator Rose- mary Brown – Monroe) SB 149 (Senator Jim Brewster – Allegheny) Amends the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, further providing for the title of the act; and, in sale of property, providing for county demolition and rehabilitation fund. Establishes the County Demolition and Rehabilitation Fund, allowing a county of the first, second, second class A, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth class and home rule charter county of any of these classes that imposes a fee to es- tablish a fund. Prevents the governing body of a county from imposing a fee not exceeding $250 for the sale of any property sold in accordance with the act or action for mortgage foreclosure. Provides for fee collection. Clarifies contents of an ordinance to establish G overnment R elations Legislation Redevelopment Bills HB 255 (Representative Robert Merski – Erie) Amends Title 53 (Munici- palities Generally) estab- lishing a neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization program to provide grants adminis- tered by DCED to municipalities in order to establish code enforcement programs and hire code enforcement personnel and to upgrade or remove blighted, abandoned and structural- ly unsafe structures and dwellings. According to a 2013 study by a trio of councils of governments in western Pennsylvania, the cost of blight is over $254 million annually or $2,267 per household per year. (Please see page 58 for a press release from Represent- ative Merski following the bill’s passge in the house.) HB 224 (Representative Mary Isaacson – Philadelphia) The Rebuild Pennsylvania Act establishes the Re- build Pennsylvania Board, the Rebuild Pennsylvania Program and the Rebuild Pennsylvania Fund and provides for the duties of the board and for use of program money, and makes an interfund transfer of $3 billion from the General Fund to Rebuild Pennsylvania Fund for fiscal year 2023-24. HB 762 (Representative Patrick Gallagher – Philadelphia) This bill provides for the Waterfront Redevelop- ment Grant Program and includes definitions for applicant, department, fund, program, secre- tary and waterfront redevelopment plan. The program is established and administered by the Department of Community and Economic Develop- ment (DCED) to issue grants to protect and revitalize coastal waters and waterfronts across the state. It also implements guidelines and proce- dures for the award of grants and establishes the Waterfront Redevelop- ment Fund within the State Treasury and outlines public outreach to inform the public of the program. HB 775 (Representative Timothy Twardzik – Schuylkill) Amends Title 53 (Mu- nicipalities Generally), in neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization and allows a municipality to enact an ordinance or resolution that requires a vacant property registration fee. Any municipality that elects to impose and collect a registration fee shall compile and maintain a vacant and blighted properties list that identifies by address and owner all vacant and blighted properties in the municipali- ty. This will shift the responsibility for vacancy and blight from responsible, taxpaying property owners to the irresponsible owners of the properties left vacant and blighted. HB 899 (Representative Manuel Guzman – Berks) Amends the Tax Reform Code, providing for ex- panded neighborhood improvement zones. Allows contract- ing authorities to designate an expanded neighborhood improve- ment zone of not greater than 130 acres in which a facility may be con- structed or borrow money for specific purchases, further requiring the con- tracting authority to notify the State Treasurer, certification and penalties. HB 1163 (Representative Abigail Salisbury – Allegheny) Amends Title 68 (Real and Personal Property), in land banks, providing for municipal acquisition of real property.